Costa del Sol waterparks

Make the most of the warm weather and warm seas in Costa del Sol with waterparks for all ages. Our rundown covers where to go for the fastest slides, for family fun or to challenge yourself on water obstacle courses – there are eight to try.

Aqualand Torremolinos, Torremolinos

Starting with the oldest and largest waterpark in the area, Aqualand Torremolinos is the place to go for the highest slides and biggest thrills.

Just five minutes' drive out of the centre of Torremolinos, set in massive grounds are 19 adult water slides and 15 that kids can have a go on.

The best-known slide here is the Kamikaze, which is the biggest in Europe, providing 22-metres of high-speed, sheer-drop madness.

For little ones the Surf Beach wave pool and separate Kidzworld will please. As a chain boasting 13 waterparks across Europe, Aqualand is well set-up with food stalls and sit down restaurants, as well as mini golf and hot tubs.

Open - End of May to October, 11am to 6pm or 7pm in July and August.

Aquamijas Park, Mijas

At the other end of the spectrum, Aquamijas Park is the smallest and least busy in the Costa del Sol so is ideal for smaller kids.

Situated in Mijas, just off the Fuengirola bypass, Lizard Island is the main kid zone, for shallow pools and mini islands with water tippers, plus there are various kids' slides and a waterfall.

Among the five water slides that grown-ups and older kids will relish are the Kamikaze, Labyrinth Slides and a pair of river rides.

Although small, lots of extra activities are laid-on to keep everyone entertained like shows, dancing and water aerobics, plus the park has mini golf, a rock-climbing wall and hot tubs. A cafe, self-service restaurant and food and drink kiosks are dotted about to keep everyone's energy up.

Open - Start of April to the end of September. Opening times from 10.30am to 5.30pm and later in summer.

Aquavelis Water Park, near Torre Del Mar

Head east and between Malaga and Nerja you'll find family-oriented Aquavelis Water Park, which attracts more of a Spanish crowd. Go where the locals go for eight slides varying from fast to kiddie-friendly.

There's another double Kamikaze as well as tyre rapids and twisting tubes, or let the nippers whizz down the Zona Mini slides. They also have an Aqua Splash area, and the two pools are for everyone to splash in.

You can add 10 or 20 minutes in the VR Arcade onto the price of your ticket, which works out cheaper if you book it online in advance. Other facilities include a couple of little gift shops, as well as a cafe, burger bar and ice cream kiosks.

Open - June and September from 11am to 6pm, and July and August 11am to 7pm.

Costa Water park, eight different Costa Del Sol locations

For a different kind of water adventure, kids and adults can try one of the 'It's a Knockout' style inflatable water playgrounds that can be found across the coast.